New season subscriber bookings open

August 8 to August 22 is when current subscribers can renew their subscriptions for the next season of concerts with conductors Conrad van Alphen and Owain Arwel Hughes and cellist Georgi Anichenko (Schumann), pianists Andrey Pisarev (Grieg), Olga Kern (Haydn and Prokofiev) and Francois du Toit (Adrian More), violinist Alexander Gilman (Korngold) and alto Hanneli Rupert (Brahms). One subscriber can win two tickets to the Cape Town Concert Series recital featuring Olga Kern on October
25). New subscriptions open on August 29. Get the concert calendar here...

Oklahoma OK!

That it is â€¦ if you havenâ€™t see the Gilbert and Sullivan production of Oklahoma on at Artscape now with the other half of the CPO in the pit, donâ€™t miss it. Itâ€™s infectious and of course you know the tunes!

World Design Capital for 2014 is Cape Town!

Bernhard Gueller...20 years in Cape Town, on FMR, opens new season

Just on 20 years since Bernhard Gueller first conducted in Cape Town, he is back to open the new season on August 7, and be the guest on FMRâ€™s People of Note on August 3, just after the 6pm news. The programme will be repeated on Thursday, August 7, just after the 1 pm news.
Gueller reflects on those 20 years in Cape Town, beginning at the time of the 1994 elections...read more

Brandon does Berlin!

A concertgoer in Berlin took the trouble to write a glowing letter to the Cape Times which was published on July 15. The letter was headlined The night SA melted German hearts and was heralded â€“ for the right reasons! Brandon Phillips came in for specific praise, not unexpectedly! Read the letter here.

Then, hereâ€™s what Robert Brooks, the head of MIAGI, said:
I would just like to share with you that Brandon was an excellent conductor on the tour. He developed from concert to concert and peaked at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw last Thursday (July 17) , conducting the entire program off by heart and got huge recognition from everybody, especially from his teacher Arjan Tien, who was clearly speechless. What was very gratifying was the fact that players respected him more and more and he had the natural authority that you need as a conductor....
Brandon also very proudly in interviews announced the support that he gets from the CPO.... He is not only a great talent anymore but he has arrived as a conductor. I am sure that he will get some opportunities to conduct abroad after his successes over the past month.
All in all the CPYO players were very fine and especially trumpeter Brandon Ruiters, who was a star .. always helpful and kind.

Anele goes to America

CPYO violinist Anele Mhlalo is off to America on a three-month scholarship, the only one granted by UNISA for a South African to study in Cleveland. Heâ€™ll be on show for three months, adding to a cultural mix in the city, and getting master classes from the Cleveland Music Institute and Cleveland Orchestra musicians. Read more about Anele here.

More sad news

Keith Mattison, one of the cornerstones of Cape Town music passed away on July 17. According to Humphrey Worthington-Smith who compiled a blog with contributions from friends about Keith and his wife, Ruth, over the years: â€œKeith was indomitable to the end. He went sailing last Saturday and watched the World Cup final on Sunday. What a way to go!â€ Keith had been involved with all Cape Town orchestras in so many ways, from conducting to arranging to writing scores and performing. We send our condolences to Ruth and his family, and know Keith will be missed by many connected with him through his various passions like sailing, teaching and computers. As so many people said at the memorial, he loved to live life on the edge! Read the blog here.
We also send our deepest sympathy to Sheila Catzel in Australia, on the passing of her husband Sigi. Sigi was a great support to Sheila over the years when she was so committed to the Friends, and we missed them both when they went to live in Australia. Sigiâ€™s humour, hosting skills and cooking skills were a legend and they will all be missed too.

Showboat sails home

After glowing reviews and a great time experiencing the day life of Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Dublin, the half of the CPO that accompanied Cape Town Opera is coming homeâ€¦just in time for rehearsals for the opening concert on August 7.
According to violinist Maretha Uys, the audiences loved the concerts and the weather was great. She loved exploring and in their free time some went up to London...And caught an LPO rehearsal for Beethoven 9.